Flexible shingle



Patented Apr. .19,

UNIT-ED 'STATES PATE-Nr 'oFrici-a.

WILLIALLEEEEGARD, o E sm. LOUIS, MISSOURI, VAssIeNoE 'Io .'.IfiIE BARBER ASPHALT coMPANY,.oE PHILADELEIIIA, PENNSYLvANIn, ,A CORPORATION or WEST vIR- GINIA,

FLEXIBLE SIIINGLE.

Application filed October 30, 1924. Seria1"No.`746,751.

rlhis invention relates to shingles and it has more particular reference to the flexible variety made from asphaltum impregnated material coated on one or both sides with a 5 mineralized surfacing. Shingles of the type referred Vto are usually made in individual form, or as strips having one longitudinal edge configured to tsimulate a series of shingle ends, so that when laid in successive courses and more or less interengaged they have the appearance of diagonally laid shingles. Such shingles are either arranged end to end in successively superposed ,overlapping rows, or are diagonally laid to afford what is generally known as a pointdown appearance; and my invention has ,reference more specifically-though not essentiallywto shingles adapted tothe latter manner of disposition The primary object 0f this invention is to provide an improved form or pattern of shingle, which Whenlaid, for covering a roof or other surface, interlocks to constitutea continuous exposed surface adapted to effectively withstand all climatic` ravages. Another object is to provide a unit shingle which when laid in multiple presents two full thicknesses of material as the weathering surface at all points ,thereoven A further object is associated with the shape of my novel shingle units wherebywhen laidthey better emphasize the shadow line7 4so'essential to relieve the monotony of surfaces covered with compo#` sition Shingles.

With the foregoing and other objects in` i view, as will be Jlater on referred to, this invention affords anew form and configuration of shingle strip unitscut from pre-l pared material without waste in such a manner that said units may be laid in diversified fashions withoutleakyv joints.

Fig. I is aplan View nf a lengthof iexible shingle material showing the manner in which my no'vel form ofjshingle units are out therefrom without appreciable waste.

Fig. IIis"a plan view of an individual shingle unit fwith one cornerr retroverted ready for applicationto a roof or other surface. f

Fig. III is'a fragmentary plan view of a surface covered with my novel form of shingles diagonallyxlaid; and,

Fig. IVis asectional view taken approximately as indicated by the arrowed lines IV-IV in the preceding figure.

Before proceeding with adetailed-description ofthe characteristic configuration of my novel shingle units it is desirable to' point out that they are conveniently formed from impregnated roofing felt usually furnished in rolls. In carrying out my' in-I .ventionI make use of a standardwidthof c asphaltum impregnated material 5 having parallel longitudinal'edges 6, and .I bisect 65 said material substantially along its center by an irregular dividing line 7. This line- 7 it will be best seen from I, separates the length of material 5 into two corresponding parts each of which is transversely severed in relatively staggered relation by cross-cuts 8 to .form shingle units 9. Thus i it will be readily understood that the dividing line 7 between the two rows of shingle units 9 becomes the profile of each row and 75 produces strips which are an exact replica of each other, ,while the cross-cuts 8 form the separate units 9; the b ack of one such unitforming the front yof the next adjoining one, without scrap or Waste. As iswell known in 'the art the foregoingoperations may be effected as oneby passing the material 5 through appropriately fashioned cutl ting rolls, hence further description is v deemed unnecessary. e5

Specifically explaining an individual shingle unit 9, as shown in Fig. II, it will be seen that the same -is bounded by'an upper straight edgelO, front and back edges A11, 12 respectively, which are the counter- 90 part of each other, andthe lower edge 13 embodying a portion of the irregular dividing line 7 aforesaid. At this Ajuncture it is to be particularly observed that while I 'have designated the dividing line 7 asir g5 regular-speaking in a general sense`it is,

, defacto, formed of alternating lengths yof corresponding outline reverselvv aligned. In other words, and as best understood from Fig. I, theprofile or dividing edge 7 ofpa 100 unit a for example affords-when severedthe opposed part-profile .or dividing edge ofU surface to be covered two consecutive, but relatively staggered, units c respectively.

Again it is particularly noteworthy that the aforesaid dividing line 7 is of an outline to provide each successively severed shingle unit 9 with a diagonally related tab 14 of the lsame being along the line or interlocking flap polygonal configuration,

adapted for retroversion crease 15 to constitute an having laterally projecting pose hereafter fully explained. This underfoldedl or retroverted tab 14 becomes a key for interlocking each unit 9 with the next layer when assembled as a roof or other surface covering, thereby entirely dispensing with any connecting metallic staple or other means common in the art to prevent buckling while accommodating free expansion and contraction of the sub-structure.

Shingle units 9 formed and configured, as above set forth, are preferably-though not essentially-diagonally laid when applied to a roo-f or other surface, as illustrated in Fig. III, thereby presenting a point-down appearance and finish. The manner of laying thenovel shingle units 9 is simplicity itself; the same being automatically 'spaced as each unit is laid, by first inserting the retroverted tab 14 in the notched-outpart 17 of the underlying unit 9 and below the stepped portion 18 in the side edge 12 of the adjacent unit, and then aligning the shingle unit parallel to the top or straight edge 10 of said under-4 lying unit. This feature entirely eliminates all necessity for previously lining out the before applying the shingles 9 4as now commonly obtains in the art. At this point it is also to be remarked thatthe notched-ou't-part 17 above referred to is located intermediate the ends of the lower edge 13 of each unit 9, and is the complemental recess formed when cufting each tab 14. Again it will be fully appreciated from an inspection of FigfIIl, that the inclined edge 19 of each shingle unit ,9 materially aids the laying operation rby defining an indicator point 20 to which the top edges 10 can be promptly registered as will be clearly understood on an examination of the asse1n bly view. Again it is observable that the connection accomplished by the retroverted tab 14 when passed through the notched-outpart 17 and slid under the preceding subjacent shingle edge is of an interlocking character, land that it functions as a key which cannot be pulled upward or outwards. As

- shown, the mediall'y overlapping and inter- .interlocking at their Fig. III..

locked unitslie in rows in one direction,

while in another direction the corresponding units of said rows lie in courses; ih'e units of each course successively overlapping and marginsfasat 19 1n It will, of course, be v vell understood that when each successive unit 9 is intel-locked in tips 16 for a pur' y fords a recess,

the manner set forth, said unit is secured with one or more n ails 21-Fig. III-in the well known way, said nails however being eompleely covered by the succeeding layer of shingle units; 4

From the foregoing description it is thought that the numerous advantages inf hering to my novel form of shingle units 9 will be readily apparent, but among others attenlion is directed to the interlocking connection effected by the tabs 14 which renders the surface covering continuous, while allowing suflicient expansion and contraction in the same plane as the roof or wall to prevent warping. Aftersuch srains are taken up, the tabs 14 will gradually seal to the next lower units. Again,

While the description assemblage of halfway overlapping courses of the shingle units 9, the may be equally well adapted to a single-ply covering without departing from the' charac,- teristics of my invention. Furthermore, when my improved shingle units 9 are in place and diagonally laid the edges exposed are so directed and held down that they cannot move up and winds or work loose,I while the finished ap! pearance is of an unique and artistic character with the shadow lines very pronounced and distinctive.

While I have described a. preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be clearly understood that I do not limit myself to the precise details set forth, butwintend to include herewith all other reasonable adaptations and modifications that fairly lie within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim.:- c

1. A flexible shingle unit having an upper straight edge, a lower irregularly-configured edge an intermediate portion whereof afgeneral design by the tabs' 14 i down in high,

fords an irregular notched-out recess, and a i straight edge, a lower, irregularly-configured edge ank intermediate portion whereof affords a polygonal-shaped recess, and a correspending polygonal-shaped retrovertible tab integral with one of the lower ycorners thereof. i

3. A flexible shingle unit having an upper straight edge, aV lower irregularly-configured edge an intermediateportion whereof afyand a polygonal-shaped retrovertible tab integral with one ofthe lower corners thereof, the otherl lower corner affording an indicator point for aligning consecutively laid units. l

4. A flexible shingle unitihaving an upper K 'i straight edge, a lower irregularly-configured edge an intermediate portion whereof affords`a. recess and a vdiagonally directed re,-

LFI

Aof the lower corners.

`straight edge, a lower irregularly-configured edge an intermediate portion whereof affords a polygonal-shaped recess, and a correspending polygonal-shaped retrovertible tab vintegal with one of the lowercorners thereof, said tab being adapted for interlocking 'engagement with the recess of one previously laid unit and the side edge of another one.

6. A flexible shingle unit having an upper straight edge, a lower irregularly-configured edge, an intermediate portion whereof affords a polygonal-shaped recess, and a corresponding polygonal-shaped retrovertible tab diagonally directed outward from one Iof the lower corners thereof, said tab being adapted for interlocking engagement with the recess of one previously laid unit'and the inwardly-stepped side edge portion of another one.

7. A flexible'shingle unit having an upper straight edge, opposed parallel irregularlylined side edges, a lower irregularly Aconfigured edge an intermediate portion whereof affords a locking recess, and a retrovertible tab integral with one of the lower corners. f

8. A flexible shingle unit having an 'upper straight edge, opposed parallel irregularlylined side edges, a lower irregularly configured edge an intermediate portion whereof affords a locking recess, and a retrovertible tab integral with one of the lower corners, said tab being adapted for engagement with the locking recess ofv a previously laid unit and the side edge of a` subjacent one.

9. A flexible shingle unit having an upper straight edge, opposed parallel irregularlylined side edges, a lower irregularly configured edge an intermediate portion whereof affordsa locking recess, and a polygonalshaped retrovertible tab integral with one 10. A flexible shingle unit having an upper straight edge, opposed parallel irregularly-lined side edges, a lower irregularly configured edge an intermediate portion whereof affords a locking recess, a polygonal-shaped retrovertible tab integral with.

one of the lower corners, the other lower corner constituting an indicator point for aligning successively laid units.

11..\A flexible shingle unit having an upper straight edge and a lower irregularly-- `configured edge provided with-an intermediate polygonal notched-out recess, and a retrovertible polygonal tab at one of the lower corners thereof; that portion of the unit in-v cluding the tab simulating a point dow-n shingle, and the other portion beingada'pted to underlie'the successively laid unit, whereby a continuous two-ply surface covering is ensured.I

12. A flexible per straight edge, a lower irregularly-lined edge affording a diagonally directed polygonal-shaped tabat one Vcorner of the shingle unit, and a complementary-configured recess intermediate the ends of said lower edo'e. o

A shingling for surface covering comunits, each unit having a retrovertible tab at one of the lower angular corners and a complementary-configured recess medially of the lower edge thereof, the tab of each shingle'unit when retroverted and laid underlying the recess in one' previously laid unit and the edge of another one.

14. A surface covering comprising rows `of successively overlapping -shingle units having polygonal recesses intermediate the lower` corners thereof, each unit in a row shingle iunit having an upv 'zor v prising successive rows of adjoining shingle so 'I having a retrovert polygonal-shaped tab at a lower corner to interengage and underlap the polygonal recess in the lower edge of a subjacent unit in the row.

15. A surface covering comprising` flexible units each having a retrovertible polygonal-shaped tab at a lower .corner and a lcomplementary congured recess medially of the irregularly-configured lower edge thereof, said units being arranged in courses so that the aforesaid tabs of units in one course interlock with the recesses of the subjacent course, thereby producing a uniform two-ply thickness throughout .the surface covered. e

16. A surface covering of shingling material comprisingsucces'sive courses of diagonally laid shingle. units, each unit having a retrovertible polygonal-.shaped tab at one of the lower corners and a complementary configured recess in the irregularly-configured lower'edge, each unit in a course hav- ,f'ing the tab thereof retroverted and interlocked with a recess in the subjacentcourse in underlapping relation, and said units when laid producing al uniform two-ply thickness throughout the surface covered.

17. A surface covering comprising rows of shingles medially overlapping, each -with a polygonal-shaped retroverted corner portion medially underlapping and interengaging a complementarily configured notch in the shingle'beneath, corresponding shingles ink adjacent rows marginally overlapping andinterlocking, the upper, under thelower. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name at Fort Pierce, Florida, this third day of October, 1924. i

f WILLIAM FREEGARD. 

